Progressive groups call for free public college

A coalition of progressive groups is hoping that President Obama’s proposal to offer two free years of community college to qualifying students is just a start.

The groups say the proposal should be just the first step toward cost-free four-year public colleges.

{mosads}The Progressive Campaign Change Committee (PCCC), Democracy for America (DFA) and the liberal Daily Kos Website — sent out petitions asking their members to pledge their support for Obama’s plan and work toward “debt-free” higher education.

“Free community college is a first step toward debt-free college at all public institutions of higher learning,” the PCCC said in its emailed petition.

A spokesperson for the group said that their email had yielded close to 30,000 signatures so far, and that they intend to lobby lawmakers on the issue.

“It will include not only raising awareness in public but talking about this directly with elected officials and making sure this becomes an agenda item for progressives in Congress and for the Democratic party,” said spokesman TJ Helmstetter of the effort.

The idea is also one that a group of lawmakers will review as part of a program, launched by a PCCC-affiliated organization, where senators and members of the House will consider policy proposals voted on by the public.

Helmstetter said that the three groups are hoping to make the issue a “major talking point” in the 2016 presidential race.

“If Democrats are going to win in 2016, they need to propose bold solutions to the economic problems facing most Americans,” Democracy for America said in an email to supporters.

“President Obama’s free community college plan does exactly that and changes the conversation about college affordability. Now it’s time for Democrats to expand the fight to making all public universities free — and eliminating the existing student loan debt that is hurting so many families.”